Corporette.com

Updated: Apr 15, 2021 64 Comments · by

Weekend Open Thread

Weekend Open Thread

This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Something on your mind? Chat about it here.

When we did our roundup of stylish booties for the office a few weeks ago, I noticed that these were really well-rated, but thought they were a bit too casual for most conservative offices; after all even the black leather pair has brown heels and soles — so I resolved to post them for the Weekend Open Thread. Still, if you work in a casual office or are looking for a walkable, trendy boot for the weekend, these are getting rave reviews. (These don't scream '90s to me, but I could see them being great with an outfit like Sandra Bullock's outfit in Speed.) You can buy them at Nordstrom and Madewell for $149-$198; the pictured shoes are $178. 

Looking for something more affordable? Lots of booties from our last roundup are marked down, including this highly rated pair (down to $59-$99). 

This post contains affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support!

Sales of note for 9.16.24

Some of our latest posts here at Corporette…

RSS Error: WP HTTP Error: cURL error 60: Issuer certificate is invalid.

And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

About Kat

Kat Griffin is the founder, publisher, and editor-in-chief of Corporette. You can read more about her here.

Comments

  1. Jules - not "Sweetheart"

    Right after our discussion about sexism at work, I was called “sweetheart” in labor negotiations yesterday and thought I’d share the story. I’m a union lawyer, chief negotiator for our side, and it came from the owner of the company. My go-to response to sweetheart-honey-etc. used to be “only my father and my husband can call me that,” but now that my father has passed and my husband is an ex I realized I need a new line. I kind of waggled my pen at the guy and said lightly, “ah-ah-ah, you’re not on the list of people who can call me that.” When he started to protest – I’m not sure what he was going to say – I just said, “nope, not unless we’re related by blood or marriage.” Everyone laughed, and I think he got the message.

    But then, after the fourth time he referred to professionals in his company who handle HR and benefits as “the girls,” I couldn’t restrain myself and told the management lawyer with wide eyes that he really ought to look into the child labor issue at this company, if they’re employing people under age 18.

    I am 60 years old; I can pass for early 50s, maybe, but I’m definitely not a kid, and this guy is probably no more than five years older than I am. And it is 2020. I thought this crap would have ended, for me and for all of us, by now . . .

    • ANon

      I cannot stand when someone refers to a grown woman as a “girl”. Annoys me just as much when I hear another woman call her peer a “girl.” Might be that I’m Gen X, and I was socialized in the 80’s, 90’s, but it still bugs me like crazy. What is really so difficult about this???

      • Anon

        I say things like “going out with the girls” where girls is short for girlfriends, and not a synonym for women. But yeah, it has NO place in the workplace.

      • Texan In Exile

        Me, neither. Yet the pushback I got from the two new women on my team at work when they talked about “us girls.” They thought it was OK and thought I was a b*tch because I kept telling them not to use that term. I expect cr*p from men. I shouldn’t have to get it from other women.

      • Ellen

        I agree. And I love your name, Trixie, b/c it is the name of the woman who was married to Ed Norton on the Honeymooner’s that that Myrna and I watch all the time! She and Alice were so much smarter then the men on that show, but had to be quiet all the time while the dumb men kept doing dumb things. In those days, women were much more tolerant of dumb husbands b/c they did not work and depended on their dumb husbands to bring home a paycheck, and willingly had s-x with them b/c they did not work and had to cook supper for them every day. Today, we are empowered, and if we even have a man, we do NOT have to put up with their BS! While I liked the old shows, I, like Kat and Kate, love being empowered as a woman attorney at law, and do not tolerate men that patronize me, or worse yet, squeeze my tuchus. They are NOT licensed to do any of that unless they are my husband. FOOEY on them!

    • Anonforthis

      I called out a board member in a meeting yesterday for something demeaning (he started with ‘apologies to the feminists in the room…’), and then changed the subject to a different tack so as not to hang a lantern on it. Scary to do it but I had multiple other people thank me after the meeting for how I did it. (I’m in my mid 20s and was almost the most junior person in the room).

      • Jules

        Bah. If you’re saying something for which you have to apologize to feminists, then you probably shouldn’t say it . . .

        Good for you for calling him out.

      • Anon

        Can you please share what you said in response? I’d like to have some phrases in my arsenal, I wouldn’t even know what to say to this…

        • Anonforthis

          It was really situation specific and I can’t without outing what company I work for. We were talking about opportunities for the company and he looked at some brand imagery on the wall and started talking about stereotypical female values and how that was the strength of the brand. I said no, there were all the other strengths of the brand, and then waxed lyrical about the arc of history (?!).
          More of a shut down than a call out oerhaps.

    • Anon

      I wish I’d handled this week’s sexism as well as you did. I got my ten-year service award from my department’s EVP, and he exclaimed proudly that he’d given three service awards to women this week. I bit my tongue, but I wanted to say something like “Gee, wonder why that’s so rare?” Apparently it’s easier to pat your own back when a handful of women stay at your STEM company, rather than consider the systemic misogyny that drives most of them away.

  2. Ashley

    I got these in September during a Shopbop sale and they are really good. I have a casual office, but I wear them a lot. Very comfortable for heels.

  3. anon a mouse

    I missed the discussion of true crime podcasts yesterday, but let me make a related recommendation: the audiobook version of Sadie by Courtney Summers. It’s very well produced and alternates between a fictional podcast about a true crime and the first-person voice of the main character.

  4. Anon

    Sore throat today. I feel a cold coming on, ominous in the distance. I’m going to take a ton of vitamin C. Any other recommendations?

  5. Anonymous

    What’s your favorite blouse for layering under sweaters (like with a collar/shirttail)? I’m wearing a dickie and feel stupid.

    • nona

      Do you just want something around your neck to feel a little more finished, or do you want the whole extra layer?

      I’ll be honest, I’ve never had a whole lot of luck with collared shirts under sweaters. I usually go with a tank (because I want the extra layer), and then either do a cowl neck sweater, or a scarf with a crew or v-neck.

      • anne-on

        Agreed, I just can’t make that look work without something shifting/bunching and generally feeling weird. I usually wear camisoles under everything in the winter (extra layer for warmth, and it helps things lay a bit better). If I really feel the need to add more polish I either go with a casual blazer or a silk scarf.

    • anon

      I like LOFT’s utility blouses because they’re thin and don’t get all bunched up underneath sweaters. So much more comfortable than a stiffer button-down top.

    • Anonymous

      Agree any collared shirt under a sweater is ok for folks 70+ who buy exclusively from lands end and have lots of turtlenecks too. Younger folks should not.

      • Anonymous

        Wow. That’s harsh. The shirt+pullover sweater combo absolutely can be worn in a current way by someone of any age, especially those who have a classic or preppy style. Even if they shop at Lands End.

        It’s all in the styling, choice of cut and color, and details. And the rest of the outfit (pants, shoes, hair, glasses, bag, etc.)

        • Anon

          I think the point others are getting at is that the collared shirt + sweater can very quickly steer into dowdy. It is a classic look of my friends who care nothing about fashion, and honestly my fashion current friends never wear it. My mother wore it frequently.

          Sure you can find some instagramers and fashion forward folks that can wear it, so I agree that you need to be careful about all the accompanying details of your outfit and pull it off. But I almost feel like the fashion forward folks wear it as a geeky touch to an otherwise current outfit…. like wearing horn-rimmed glasses… especially when they wear it buttoned up all the way.

          But when the collar is open, you look like my mother…

    • TrixieRuby

      I find a silk or silky blouse works best-there is less friction, and it does not grab onto the sweater. To look more current, leave the shirt tails out, and pull out the shirt cuffs, and push/fold up the sweater cuffs. I don’t think it looks matronly if you work to style the shirt/sweater combo and avoid the tucking in of the shirt.

      • Cat

        +1

        I love a silk blouse under a cashmere sweater. But the cuffs and shirttails show. I would feel very stuffy if everything was tucked in.

  6. Oh wow

    I posted a couple of weeks ago about my positive pregnancy tests and I’m back to say that I’m 7 weeks pregnant as confirmed by the doctor! I’m super excited and still in shock since I had pretty much decided it wasn’t going to happen. Thank you for being a safe and anonymous place to share my news since we aren’t going to tell anyone until after the 12 week ultrasound.

  7. Anonymous

    How do you store coats and shoes in your entryway/mudroom? We’re rethinking ours and I’m overwhelmed!

    • anne-on

      We have very little storage in our house (yay 1800’s home) and we had our one entryway closet ‘done’ by a local California closet knock off company. One side is a hanging rod higher up (maybe 4 ft?) with a storage shelf above, the other is a much higher rod (maybe 6 ft up?) with shelves underneath it. Lower side for me/kiddo, high side for husband. The shelves are for shoes. We also have higher hooks on the inside of the door for thin coats, lower hooks for helmets, and a hook on the other side to store re-usable bags.
      We also bought something similar to this at Arhaus – Pottery Barn and others make versions too.
      https://www.etsy.com/listing/488035147/the-philadelphia-mudroom-lockers-bench?ref=shop_home_active_12&frs=1&crt=1
      And we STILL are busting at the seams. The joys of new england, kids sports equipment, and having allll the seasons.

    • MnCoats

      A Hall Tree. We have no entry closet (1910 house) and live in the frozen north. It’s not a great solution and I keep a bunch of off-season coats in an upstairs closet.

  8. LittleBigLaw

    I’m in the throes of a domestic come apart and will be buying a robot vacuum within the hour to save my sanity, my health, and my marriage. Assuming my local store has all three options, please vote below for your favorite: Shark, Roomba, or Neato. I’ll report back Monday with the real-life outcome!

    • Anonymous

      Never owned them so can’t recommend but wishing you marital peace and felicity!

    • Good luck

      Roomba. I bought a $300ish one over the summer. Love it, wish I had splurged on the mapping one.

      (Was recommended Roomba given wide availability of parts/repair tutorials online).

    • Anon

      Go to Costco and buy whatever Roomba they have on sale. Enjoy, and sending you strength.

  9. Cute boots

    Ideas for where to find cute boots that are not made of animal products? Must I buy leather to have quality boots or other shoes? (feel free to skip this comment if it’s not for you!)

    • Anon

      Fake suede often wears pretty well in my experience. I have not found that you “get what you pay for” with imitation leathers, and if it’s going to wear poorly either way, I would rather pay less to begin with. So I would start by looking at a place like DSW or a department store for something cheap and cute.

    • Lots to Learn

      My teen just announced she would not wear leather and I found cute booties for her on Will’s Vegan Shoes. In the UK, but have shipping from NJ. Easy returns.

    • Jules

      Sorry to be late to this. My beloved Rockport Kimly faux suede ankle boots are starting to wear a bit and I’ve had some trouble replacing them, but I just got a pair of non-leather kitten heel ankle boots at DSW, Impo brand. I also bought some cute and very inexpensive knee-high, low-heeled boots, Jessica Cline, at the Shoe Department. I’ve been trying to replace some very sleek Franco Sarto knee boots for a while, but not having much luck online at least, maybe because it’s the end of the season. (There are some at DSW, but too high a heel for me.) This is a good brand to check out, as are Aerosoles and Aldo, as they have a mix of both leather and non-leather products. I agree, you should get to the largest DSW you can find and just read all the labels.

      https://www.shoeshowmega.com/shoedeptencore/womens/boots/jessica-cline-empress/152584.html

      https://www.dsw.com/en/us/product/impo-nixxie-bootie/434072?activeColor=525
      When I went to look for these online, I see that they also come in red faux suede, I might need to have those.

  10. Anonymous

    I might be fired this week. I had a bad few months with mental health and physical health stuff all crashing at the same time, and I made a lot of small detail mistakes which add up to too many. I received my final warning a couple of weeks ago, and we’ll meet this week to see if I’ve made enough improvement.
    I’m the bread winner, about $60,000 per year. My husband is a contract worker and makes between $10,000-20,000 per year. I genuinely do not know what we are going to do if I lose this job because we have absolutely no savings. I’m also hoping I don’t cry in the HR office but since I almost cried when I got my final warning, I don’t think that will be possible. How have people moved on from being fired?

    • Anon

      I’m sorry. Quite a few people here, including me, have been fired and ended up finding new positions that are better in every way. I’m sure it will happen for you. Unemployment helps ease the financial burden in the meantime. Your husband needs to also be searching hard for a full-time job though. Unless he’s disabled to the point he can’t work (in which case you should be on govt assistance), he should be able to earn more than $20,000 a year. It’s very unfair for him to put the emotional burden of being the “breadwinner” on you while he gets to pursue his minimally-paying contract work.

        • Anon

          Didn’t see this til now, but yes absolutely you can collect social security disability payments regardless of marital status. The point of disability is to replace an individual’s lost income when they’re too disabled to work, and marital status has nothing to do with disability status. It’s not something you earn by being low income, where your spouse’s income could potentially bump you out of income eligibility.

    • Go for it

      Breathe.
      Deeply.

      Remember you are not your “job”.
      People have moments that are hard, really hard, do not allow this moment to define you.
      Sit down with the DH ~ he’s gotta get more cash coming in~ 20-30k is not a living wage ~Home Depot, fast food, anywhere. Not sure if there are kid/s, if so, and he’s your child care provider, someone has to get a part time job to tide your family over. Pronto.

      Since you mentioned no savings, and presuming you’ve a work history and plans to return to full time employment do not be too proud to apply for food stamps. This is what they are for. Hit your nearby food pantries as well. They have food, and often paper goods and toiletries too. It all adds up and any assistance now will be beneficial.
      Go to your local labor department and ask for a sit down appointment with a career counselor to go over options for yourself. They are there to help you in this transitional time.
      Be kind to yourself, allow yourself a good cry, then put your big person self back in charge.
      This too shall pass. Best to you.

    • Anonymous

      If it happens, review and cut your expenses immediately. File for unemployment if available. If you are in an industry with temp work, reach out to temp staffing firms immediately, as a couple of assignments could tide you over. And then make finding a new position your full time job.

Back to Top

About

Work with Corporette®

Serious Stuff

work fashion blog press mentions